Suitable clothing for Moped

Kimberley

Motorcycle outfits are expensive. I'm sure when riding a Moped you don't need the entire leather motorcycle outfit do you? Do you know what would be reasonable to wear on a Moped? Would a simple puffer jacket be alright and just waterproof trousers to fit over your normal wear?

poly1

I rode a moped for many years in London, and I never ever went anywhere without a protective jacket on, you can get textile ones from about £50 (http://www.getgeared.co.uk/Textile_Motorcycle_Clothing for example). You do not 'need' leathers but some form of protection is a good idea. I was in quite a nasty accident where a driver drove straight into me at only about 25mph. I was thrown a long way and knocked out, the police did say they were quite surprised i didn't end up with any more than whiplash and bruising. And my jacket (which has inserts in it) was damaged, so I took the inserts out and they were as flat as a pancake, so they absorbed all the impact. I must admit I never used protective trousers, just jeans although I probably wished I had after that as the worst bruising was down my leg. TBH it is not work saving some money to ride unprotected if you end up seriously injured because of it. Also make sure you wear good gloves and decent shoes (not trainers). HTH

creased-leach

Kimberly, the first thing I was taught when doing my bike test was how much flesh & muscle would be taken off my body by the tarmac should I hit it at even 20mph.

Protective gear is essential. Seeing anyone out on a moped or motorcycle in shorts, t-shirts & wearing no gloves makes me want to grab them & shake them. It's idiotic.

As Poly said, you don't need leathers. In fact, chances are you'd be better getting some adaptable gear with protection built in. Leathers look good, but damn they can be hot in the summer, and soak up the rain like a sponge! Aldi & Lidl have good suits in from time to time, OH has had his set for 5 years ish and it's been great value.

Just think back to coming off a pushbike as a kid, and grazing your hands/ legs. Then multipy it......

pogofish

You really do need to think of protection, even on a moped. In fact I often cringe when passing the many poorly clad moped riders I see here. One short slide would see them looking like a plate of raw mince.

Yes, do keep an eye on both the Aldi & Lidl websites - They both do a range of reasonable quality riding gear & accessories (although other things like their locks & intercoms are poor). Remember that decent gloves & boots are equally important. Although I must admit that I do wear normal trousers/jeans for day to day riding & keep the leather/protective pants for longer rides. In this area, you can usually expect the first bike gear to appear sometime in March. It may vary elsewhere?

Regatta do a double-layer pair of waterproof overtrousers that are genuinely waterproof & splendid insulation in cold weather, without bulking you out like the michelin man. OTOH, they were about £20 & you could get simple nylon overtrousers from them for less than a tenner not long ago. Remember to get them big enough to go on over any other kit & over boots etc or you will have a pig of a time at the roadside.

Primark long johns are also good insulation for winter riding & a fraction of even Aldi or Lidl's price.

Kimberley

Thank you. I have managed to win some items on eBay. I have a leather jacket, trousers and a helmet. All I need now are some gloves and I can then book my CMT Moped training

Jem8472

Its good that you have got some stuff.

I cam off my moped a few weeks back. Going round a left corner on a roundabout on the way to work 5:45am . The back stepped out and then flicked the other way then back again and was on the ground. I remember seeing the road scrape across in front of my visor.

I had a armoured jacket but only foam armour. And I only had jeans and waterproof trousers on.

I came out well. No injuries just a bit stiff ribs the next day and a bump on my shin. Had to get a new helmet to be on the safe side.

But to be honest I was prob doing about 25 going round that corner and it was enough to hit the ground at that speed.

Kimberley

I'll try to be as careful as I can Do you know what sort of gloves i'd need because all i've seen is the big mens ones and they would be too think for me

Jem8472

I jst use some skiing glove I picked up in Canada a few years ago. keep my hands warm and dry most of the time. but when its very cold the wind does get through

Dime_Bar

I was told when I learnt that gloves are the most important part of the safety gear as not only do they protect your hands in the event of a crash but they keep them warm. Remember cold hands do not function well and that is not a good thing on a motorbike.

Ruth_honey

I would recommend going to a bike show if possible. There's one at the Excel in London this weekend. You can try on loads of gloves and there are many good bargains. Please get the best you can afford. This gear could save your life! I had an accident on a 125cc motorbike going about 15MPH (if that) in 1998 and now have part of my knee missing. I wish I could turn the clock back and wear leathers or even kelvar lined jeans. My top half and hands were fine as I was wearing good protective gear there, but hadn't had chance to buy decent bottoms. Lesson learnt for me...and some pretty horrible scars to remind me of my stupidity every single day.
Everyone's given some good advice though. Good luck with your CBT!

Treadway1

hi Kimberley

As some have already alluded to, motorcycle clothing isnt all about protection, although safety is obviously paramount. Some consideration must be given to warmth aswell though. Depending on when you plan on riding your bike (I.E. Fairwether only or all year round), I would recommend that whatever you get should keep you warm and dry whilst riding. When your body gets cold, you start to lose concentration, which on a bike could have obvious results.

On another note, and as someone has already said, bar the helmet, gloves are the most important piece of kit. Your hands are usually the first thing to hit the floor when you fall, so getting a good pair of protective gloves is a must. Not wanting to scare you but Ive had friends literally have their fingers cheese grated off on tarmac after a spill because of shoddy gloves, so the little extra money is well worth it.

Other than that, good luck with your CBT. Riding a bike is one of the most simple pleasures you can get, so I hope you enjoy it. Be safe.